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2011 Kia Soul brakes problems
severe
Owners of the 2011 Kia Soul have filed 37 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 120,000 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See brakes across all vehicles →
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service BulletinPS675Aug 2020
PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake caliper fluid/oil substance found on some Kia vehicles, due to possible excess assembly oil applied during assembly.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The bulk of these complaints center on NHTSA recall 23V652000, which addresses a defective hydraulic control electronic unit (HECU) in the brake system. Starting around 80,000 miles and continuing to over 200,000 miles, owners experience the ABS module commanding the brakes to apply without driver input. A vehicle might be cruising at 45–60 mph and suddenly lose power, stall, and refuse to restart for 20+ minutes. Some smell burning plastic afterward. The check engine light and ABS warning lights illuminate. Dealers diagnosed the HECU failure consistently but couldn't repair it—Kia did not have replacement parts available, leaving owners stuck with unrepaired vehicles they were advised not to drive.
One unconfirmed allegation claims a 2011 Soul caught fire and burned completely while parked overnight, destroying the vehicle and damaging a nearby house and shop.
Beyond the HECU problem, owners report brake vibration and grinding sounds, especially during hard stops. One mechanic found brake pad delamination, with fragments interfering with wheel rotation. One owner experienced sudden unintended acceleration while parking, followed by unresponsive brakes; another reports the brake pedal causing the engine to stall. A fourth complaint documents a brake fluid leak from the ABS module itself.
A recall repair backlog that lasted years created a safety exposure: owners drove vehicles known to have life-threatening brake failures with no remedy available.
Same Kia Soul brakes reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Hydraulic Control Electronic Unit (HECU) failure causing loss of braking and drivability
The ABS/HECU module fails, resulting in loss of braking response, unintended braking, stalling, power loss, and inability to restart. Owners report the module continuing to draw power even when the vehicle is off, and smell burning plastic or abnormal smoke. This is the core failure underlying recall 23V652000.
When: 80,000 to 200,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle applies brakes without driver input while driving; Vehicle stalls or loses power while driving; Vehicle will not restart immediately, requires 20+ minutes before restart possible; Traction control warning light illuminated; Check engine/MIL warning light illuminated; ABS warning light illuminated; Electronic stability control warning light illuminated; TPMS warning light illuminated; Burning plastic odor; Abnormal smoke odor from engine compartment; ABS module running while vehicle is turned off (drawing battery); Failure to respond to accelerator pedal
Repairs/costs cited: Recall 23V652000 parts unavailable as of complaint dates. Some owners had HECU diagnosed by dealer but not repaired due to part unavailability. One owner attempted independent repair with camshaft and crankshaft sensor replacement and spark plug replacement without resolving the issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, replacement parts were not available at the time of complaints. Dealer advised some owners not to drive the vehicle.
Brake vibration and grinding sensation
Owners report severe vibration, grinding, or knocking sounds when braking, especially during emergency stops. Dealer reports indicate brake pad delamination and emergency brake shoe wear. Some owners experience rattle in the rear quadrant that diminishes with light braking.
When: Mileage not specified in narratives
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration that increases then decreases in frequency during braking; Grinding-like vibration noise under vehicle during braking; Sound described as hard rocks or gravel on brake pads; Loud knocking or rattle from right rear quadrant; Jerking sensation while braking; Brake pad delamination
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced emergency brake shoe. Brake pad delamination found; dealer indicated delaminated pad fragments caused vibration by interfering with wheel rotation during subsequent revolutions.
ABS hydraulic fluid leak from ABS module
Owner observed brake fluid spotting on driveway. Independent mechanic diagnosed leak originating from the ABS system and linked it to recall 23V652000. Dealer disputed whether VIN was included in recall and did not repair.
When: 128,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil/brake fluid spots on driveway; Leak from ABS system
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic identified leak from ABS system; repair not performed due to recall part availability and VIN exclusion dispute.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 23V652000 referenced; dealer stated VIN not included in recall coverage.
Engine fire originating in engine bay
Vehicle caught fire and completely burned while parked overnight. Fire originated in the front engine bay and spread to engulf entire vehicle. Owner believes recall 23V652000 was responsible. Vehicle was a total loss; nearby house, motorcycle, and shop sustained damage.
When: 165,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle caught fire in engine bay while parked; Fire spread to entire vehicle; No warning lights prior to fire
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed by fire. Fire department and police reports filed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner suspected NHTSA campaign number 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) caused the failure.
Vehicle acceleration failure and loss of braking
In one incident, vehicle accelerated unexpectedly when driver pulled into a parking space, brakes went unresponsive, and vehicle went over a parking curb onto a walkway. Owner struck corner of store which stopped the vehicle.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden unintended acceleration while parking; Brakes went to floor (unresponsive)
Brake pedal engagement causing stalling and no-start condition
Pressing the brake pedal causes the engine to stall. Additionally, vehicle will not start when fueling up. Dealer diagnostic work identified evaporative emission control issues but the core brake-stall relationship remains unresolved.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls when brake pedal is pressed; Vehicle will not start after fueling; Evap leak detected; Fuel malfunction; Canister solenoid issue
Repairs/costs cited: Owner paid $480 to repair evap canister purge vent, evap leak, fuel malfunction, and canister solenoid issues; brake-stall problem may persist.
Synthesized from 37 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
5 most recent
brakes
· filed 12/28/2023
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle but could not determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not…
brakes
· filed 12/11/2024
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not…
brakes
· filed 12/06/2023
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The…
brakes
· filed 12/02/2023
When you press the break the car stalls, when you fuel up the car it will not start. Autos unlimited in Rolla, Mo sold it as inspected with "" nothing "" on the inspection sheet. This dealer is claiming they will "fix: this issue. It cost me 480.00 to fix it. --- evap canister purge vent- evap leak- fuel malfunction- canister solenoid.
brakes
· filed 11/28/2023
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool…
Had brakes trouble with your 2011 Kia Soul?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2011 Kia Soul?
It's a meaningful issue. 37 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 80,000 and 152,000 miles, with the median around 120,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 80,000; a quarter make it past 152,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover brakes issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Kia/Soul.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.